TY - JOUR T1 - Commentary JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 115 LP - 115 DO - 10.1136/jme.2004.005470 VL - 31 IS - 2 AU - P Fricker Y1 - 2005/02/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/31/2/115.abstract N2 - The debate on hypoxic air devices is of interest to me as a doctor, a researcher, and an active participant in a number of committees and bodies which are concerned with ethics and doping. I write this commentary as a personal contributor though, and not as a representative of any particular organisation or authority. The issues here appear to revolve around the concept of cheating in order to gain an unfair advantage in a sporting contest. The use of artificial means to enhance performance immediately raises eyebrows because of an unease about using other than “natural” (dare I say “God given”?) talents to compete (and win) at sport. There is a perception that cheating implies anything that appears to enhance performance by non-natural physical or chemical means. … ER -